Extrusion die conversion

Abstract

Certain portions of the discharge slots of an existing extrusion die for forming honeycomb structures are blocked off by selectively positioning a plurality of tabs within such discharge slots so as to convert the cellular configuration originally formed by the discharge slots of such die to that of a desired cellular configuration.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of converting the discharge pattern of an extrusion die for forming cellular honeycomb articles from a conventional intersecting gridwork pattern to a desired modified pattern which comprises, providing an extrusion die having a plurality of interconnected discharge slots formed in an outlet face thereof and with quadrilateral die pins formed between such slots, providing a plurality of tab members having attachment means for securing said tab members to said die pins and insert means for blocking off selected portions of said discharge slots, inserting said insert means within selected portions of said discharge slots for blocking off said portions and forming a desired discharge pattern, and securing said attachment means to the outlet face of selected die pins. 
     
     
       2. A method of converting the discharge pattern of an extrusion die to a desired modified pattern as defined in claim 1 including the steps of positioning said tab members on the outlet face of said extrusion die to form a desired cellular discharge pattern in the shape of a polygon the number of walls of which is a multiple of the number of walls forming the cells of the initial discharge pattern times a positive integer, and fusion bonding said tab members to the die pins upon which they are positioned. 
     
     
       3. A method of converting an extrusion die to form a desired modified discharge pattern as defined in claim 1 which includes the step of positioning said tabs so as to block off selected portions of said discharge slots and form a rectangular cellular discharge pattern. 
     
     
       4. A method of converting an extrusion die to form a desired modified discharge pattern as defined in claim 1 which includes the step of positioning said tabs so as to block off selected portions of said discharge slots and form a T-shaped discharge pattern. 
     
     
       5. A method of converting an extrusion die to form a desired modified discharge pattern as defined in claim 1 which includes the step of positioning said tabs so as to block off selected portions of said discharge slots and form an L-shaped discharge pattern.